Spring-wheel.



W. C. TERRY & C. JOERIGHT.

spams WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED DEC-8.- 19.15.,

Patented une 13, 1916.

will

WILLIAM C. TERRY AND CHARLES JOERIG-I-IT, OF CI-IAGRIN FALLS, OHIO.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 13, 1916.

Application filed December 8, 1915. Serial No. 65,839.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, VILLIAM C. TERRY and CHARLES JOERIGHT, citizens of the United States, residing at Chagrin Falls, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring-VVheels, of which the following is a Specification.

The present invention relates to the construction and arrangement of a wheel and more particularly to an improved type of rim therefor in which the shocks incident to travel are absorbed by means of springs in place of the usual pneumatic cushion of the inflated type of tire.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the above stated character wherein byproviding a plurality of springs eliminates the bringing of eX- cessive pressure on one single spring, and further provides tractive engagement between the outer and inner rim sections of the wheel through the medium of such springs, the outermost terminal of each spring carrying friction rollers operating in tracksfprovided by the outermost section of the rim, whereby when a rough road is encountered the outer rim section will be forced toward the inner rim section and in so forcing compresses the spring with the result that the springs act to absorb the shock.

A still further object of the. invention is the provision of mud guards fiXedly secured to the outermost section of the rim and housing the springs to shield the same from dust, dirt and the like.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel-features, details of construction, and combination of parts which hereinafter will be more fully set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a transverse section; and Fig. 4: is a detail view of one of the springs employed.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the numeral 5 represents the `hub of a wheel from which radiate a series of spokes 6, of wood, metal or other suitable material having their inner ends rigidly supported within the hub, while their outer ends have secured thereto in any preferred manner the felly 7. We employ in connection with the Wheel of the above stated character, an improved rim which comprises a solid annular inner ring 8 `which may be constructed of metal or other suitable material and is liXedly secured-to the felly 7 by means of bolts 9 and is arranged concentric to the felly7. The improved type of rim further constitutes an outer ring 1()- of a diameter larger than the diameter of the inner lring 8 and is arranged in spaced concentric relation therewith. The said outer ring is constructed of a pairof upper and lower L-shaped sections 11y and 12 respectively and secured to one another by means of, transverse bolts 13. Each of the L-shaped sections constituting the outermost ring 10 is provided onone of its edges with an upstanding annular flange 14 forming within the outermost ring a pair of annular tracks 15 and 16 respectively.V A plurality of curved leaf springs 17 are interposed between the inner and outer rings' 8 and 10 respectively to furnish the proper resiliency to the wheel. The inner'v endsof the springs are arranged in overlappedrelation oneto the other as indicated at 18 and riveted in the annular groove 19 of the inner ring 8, means of fasteners 20. The opposite ends of` the springs 17 or thefr'ee ends thereof, are formed with substantially vertically disposed thickened end portions 21 which protrude through the slots 22 of the lowermost L-shaped section 12 of the. outer ring 10. The slots 22 are disposed in a spaced circumferential series throughout the entire circumference of the lower L-shaped section 12 and are of a width lesser than the space 23 formed between theupper and lower L- shaped sections to provide the tracks 15 and 16 with a horizontally disposed portion 24C which serves as a bearing for the friction rollers 25 and 26 carried upon the extending portions 27 of the stop'pins 28. The pins 28 are detachably mounted in the loops 29 formed on the terminal portions of the thickened end portions 21 of each of the springs 17.

It will be obvious from inspection of the drawing that when a rough road is encountered the outer yrim section vwill be forced toward the innerrim section and in so forcing move the free ends of the springs longitudinally in the slots 22 and the free movement of the springs within the slots is caused by the travel. of the friction rollers against the opposed inner solid portions of the respective upper and lower L-shaped sections kso of the outer rim 10, and in the tracks 15 and 16 respectively and in so doing will force or compress the springs with the result that the springs will act to absorb the shock. Bolts 30 pass transversely through the outer ring 10 for connecting therewith mud guards 31, which in this instance are shown as constituting a pair of metallic rings 32 having their lower portions terminating substantially flush with the inner circumference of the inner ring 8 and shield the leaf springs 17 from dust, dirt or the like, while the opposite ends 33 of the mud guards 31 project above the plane of the outer ring 10 to providenthe latter with a groove for holding a solid rubber tire 34E.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, and while we have described the principles of operation of the device together with the device which we now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended thereto.

W'e claim:

1. In a spring wheel, a hub, a felly connected to said hub by means of spokes, a rim secured to said felly comprising a solid inner ring and a sectional outer ring, the sectional outer ring being disposed in spaced circumferential relation to the inner ring, a plurality of leaf springs interposed between the spaces of the rings and having their inner ends l'iXedly secured to the outer periphery of the innermost ring, the opposite ends of the springs being provided with upstanding thickened portions terminating in loops, and a series of friction rollers supported in the loops of said springs and operating upon the opposed surfaces of the sections of the outermost ring.

2. In a device of the class described embodying a rim consisting of a -solid inner ring and a sectional outer ring, the sectional @epica of? this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the outer ring being disposed in spaced concentric relation with the solid inner ring and formed with a series of slots. means for securing the sections of the outer rings together, a plurality of springs interposed between the inner and outer rings and having Atheir inner ends fiXedly secured to the onteiperiphery of the inner solid-ring, the opposite ends of the springs protruding through the slots of the outermost ring and terminating in looped ends, pins mounted in the looped ends of said springs and projecting beyond the ends thereof, and a series of antifriction rollers mountedupon the projecting ends of said pins and operating upon the opposed surfaces of the sections of the outer'- most ring upon contraction of said springs.

3. ln a spring wheel, a hub, a felly connected to said hub by means of spokes, a rim secured to said felly consisting of a solid inner ring and a sectional outer ring, the said sectional outer ring embodying inner and outer Lshaped sections and the inner l.shaped section having formed in its horizontal portion series of concentrically arranged slots, the outer L-shaped section being disposed in spaced circumferential relation to the inner L-shaped ring section, means for securing the lshaped sections of the outer ring together, a plurality of leaf springs fiXedly secured at their inner ends to the outer periphery of the inner ring section, the opposite ends of the springs protruding through the slots of the innermost L-shaped section of the sectional outer ring and within the spaces between the said l.- shaped sections, yand friction rollers supported upon the free ends of the springs and operatively mounted between and on the opposed faces of the horizontal portion of 'the said inner and outer ring, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ILLIAM C. TERRY. CHARLES JOERlGl-IT.

Witnesses F RANK S'rUoi-IEL, FRED AXEL.

Commissioner of Batents.

Washington. 1D. C. 

